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Nothing tops Masters week for me, but this is damn close.

I especially love the home matches where I’m not forced to wake up terribly early to take in the action. Both teams look great, the banter is already at a fever pitch, and we have just one more sleep until the boys tee off.

While the opening ceremony was pushed up a day due to the weather, the captains will again take the podium to announce the opening morning pairings and matchups tonight at 4pm ET.

I don’t care to speculate on pairings as much as others, but it does feel like we’ll be getting some slightly different looks from the European team, despite basically running it back with the same 12.

From the American side? Who knows? I think there are several voices in the room that have some sway on the decisions Captain Keegan is making and if the rumors are true, Friday may be put on the backs of the veterans.

While it’s a very unique week in terms of format and betting, it is NOT here at Betsperts Golf. We have the entire 24-man field loaded into the Rabbit Hole for you to play around with, and of course, our main man with the research, Ron Klos, has put out several articles surrounding the competition, including a comprehensive preview of the course. An excerpt from it:

Bethpage Black

Bethpage Black is a municipal course, one of five that are part of Bethpage State Park in New York. It opened in 1936 and was designed by A. W. Tillinghast with the idea of creating a “public Pine Valley.” With a reputation as one of the most challenging courses in the world, it proved a daunting task for participants when hosting the U.S. Open in 2002 and 2009, as well as the PGA Championship in 2019. For the Ryder Cup, Bethpage will play as a par 70 at 7,352 yards, which measures as one of the longest courses played on the PGA schedule.

The Bethpage Black course features expansive routing over hilly and forested Long Island terrain. From the low point of the first fairway to the high ground near the ninth green and across holes 10 through 12, Bethpage Black features 77 feet of elevation change. This isn’t a gradual climb but rather a defining characteristic of the course’s topography—a recurring rise and fall that players feel throughout their rounds. The shifts are most noticeable midway through the front nine and again during the demanding stretch on the back, where uphill and downhill lies complicate club selection, shot trajectory, and distance control.

One of the unique advantages granted to the home Ryder Cup team is the ability to influence how the golf course is set up. This often plays a pivotal role in shaping the style of competition, as each side seeks to tailor conditions to its strengths. Historically, the European side has favored narrowing the fairways and allowing the rough to grow thick, placing a premium on accuracy and course management while neutralizing the Americans’ typical edge in power off the tee. This approach forces players into more conservative strategies and rewards precision over sheer distance.

By contrast, the U.S. has traditionally leaned into its reputation for aggressive play when hosting. American captains have often chosen to widen the fairways and avoid overly penal setups, reducing the emphasis on accuracy and increasing the likelihood of birdies. This style encourages aggressive play, producing more birdie chances, and aligning with the strengths of American golfers who thrive on length and offensive shot-making. In match play, where momentum can swing dramatically with a single hole, such setups create more volatility and excitement while giving the home team a better chance to maximize its skill advantages.

One of the defining characteristics of Bethpage Black, and the primary reason it has earned a reputation as one of the most demanding tests in golf, is its long, dense rough. Traditionally, this feature punishes wayward drives and places a premium on accuracy, turning even routine holes into grueling challenges. However, early reports from both camps indicate that U.S. captain Keegan Bradley has opted for the traditional American formula in course setup. Wide fairways and benign rough are expected to be the order of the week, softening Bethpage’s usual bite (especially on its gauntlet of long par 4s) and creating an environment more conducive to aggressive golf where players with length off the tee can attack with driver.

Said former Ryder Cup player and captain Paul McGinley, who has recently walked the course, “The rough is not as it would be in a U.S. PGA or a U.S. Open that has been played there before. The fairways are pretty generous at the moment because they’re soft. 

By removing some of the course’s most penal elements, Bradley’s setup strategy effectively transforms Bethpage Black from a war of attrition into a stage that rewards length and fearless play off the tee. This approach aligns with the strengths of the American roster, many of whom thrive on overpowering courses rather than grinding through thick rough. Long iron play will also be key as 11 holes will require an approach shot from 175+ yards.

Betting

While I DO love it here in America, I simply cannot stand idly by and look at this price for Europe and do nothing! Home-field advantage is one thing, but as evenly matched as these teams are, this seems like a bit much in my opinion.

EUROPE TO WIN THE CUP +170

I was going to take it a bit easier on the props this time around (last time I bet the guy who got diarrhea and only played twice to score over 1.5 points), as so many factors can play into how many matches guys get. The difference between 3 and 4 is massive and we have no data on what Keegan may do.

That doesn’t mean I’m not taking some more pro-Europe bets (do you like the US here? You can find all of these but in reverse for slightly lower prices if that makes this weekend more fun for you)

Europe -1.5 +200

-“the comeback” Lead after each day: USA/USA/Europe +1400

-Correct Score:
EU 14.5-13.5 +1200
EU 15-13 +1200
EU 15.5-12.5 +1400

-Morikawa under or equal to 1.5 points +100

-Points Matchups

Ben Griffin > Rasmus Hojgaard -185
Matt Fitzpatrick > Collin Morikawa -130

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Weather

Well, if you have social media and follow any golf accounts, you know: it is raining today.

While that opens us up to pretty soft conditions for opening day, the rest of the even seems like things should be pretty nice. Some higher winds today, but again, calming down in time for the competition.

Currently, there is a decent chance of some stray showers on Sunday, but the first singles match is not scheduled until around noon, leaving some time for the clouds to clear out.

News and Notes

TWO completely different lists: Claire’s top 5 looks the U.S. should bring back….

…and the top ten worst uniforms of all time.

…both landing on the same shirts from the 1999 U.S. Team.

We also did a quick whip-around yesterday, talking about the course, the players, the bets, and anything else if you need to kill some more time waiting for tomorrow:

As always, bet responsibly, have fun, and …..

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